Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 31.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya is 31.6%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya peaked at 59.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 31.6%, in 2024.
That places Kenya 38th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 59.6% | — |
| 2001 | 58.4% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 57.3% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 56.1% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 55.0% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 53.8% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 52.7% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 51.5% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 50.3% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 49.2% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 48.0% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 46.8% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 45.7% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 44.5% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 43.3% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 42.2% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 41.0% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 39.8% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 38.7% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 37.5% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 35.1% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 33.9% | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 32.7% | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 31.6% | -3.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 31.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.4%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 31.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.4% | 49.2% | 59.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.8% | 37.5% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.9% | 31.6% | 36.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 35 Lesotho 32.8% compare
- 36 Mali 32.4% compare
- 37 Mauritania 31.9% compare
- 39 Afghanistan 31.4% compare
- 40 Cote d'Ivoire 31.2% compare
- 41 Sudan 30.3% compare
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Kenya was 31.6% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 59.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.6% in 2024.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Kenya ranks 38th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.